WWW- Playboy today announced the appointment of Louis Mohn [pictured] as publisher of Playboy magazine and vice president of the Publishing Group. As publisher, Mr. Mohn will be responsible for leading and managing the advertising sales team for Playboy magazine and Playboy.com. He replaces Diane Silberstein, who recently left the Company. Mohn will be based in PEI's Publishing Group headquarters in New York, effective immediately. "We are confident that Lou is the perfect candidate for this vital position within our Company," said PEI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christie Hefner.
"With over 25-years of publishing industry experience, top-notch leadership skills and a highly-regarded reputation among the advertising community, he will be of great value to our magazine, the driver of our internationally popular brand." Hefner added, "Lou's experience in bundling publishing assets in print, television, online, radio and events to increase advertising revenue is key to Playboy's future growth strategy." "I am thrilled to be joining Playboy and about the enormous opportunities the publication presents," said Mohn. "Our goal will be to create new categories of business, reinforce our already existing areas of business, and strengthen our relationships with advertisers by utilizing and integrating Playboy's marketing strengths and brand resources." Mohn, 49, joined Playboy from Primedia where he served as president of the Consumer Automobile Group for five years. He oversaw the sales, editorial, marketing, operations and franchise development for Motor Trend, Truck Trendand Automobile magazines and their respective web sites. During his tenure, Mohn initiated the group's expansion internationally in print, broadcast, television and radio, and with branded consumer auto shows increasing revenueover $25 million. Specifically, he played a role in the launches of international editions including Motor Trend En Espanol, Motor Trend China, Motor Trend Taiwan, Motor Trend Indonesia and Automobile China. He alsoexpanded Motor Trend's prestigious Car, Truck and SUV of the Year award programs; and spearheaded Motor Trend television, Motor Trend radio and a nationwide series of Motor Trend auto shows for consumers in 17 major markets. Prior to joining Primedia, Mohn served as senior vice president at Real Names Corporation, an Internet start-up, where he recruited, trained and lead the sales staff. Before joining Real Names Corporation, and over the course of 15 years, Mohn held senior level positions with BusinessWeek including vice president of sales, west and southeast, respectively. In both roles, he managed all aspects of advertising sales which led to significant revenuegrowth in several key advertising categories. Mohn began his career in publishing at the McGraw-Hill Companies (parent of BusinessWeek) as account manager/director of marketing for 33 Metal Producing Magazine and account manager at Industry Mart/NC Shop Owner Magazine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mohn graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio earning a B.A. He resides in Connecticut with his wife and their two children.
